Give Your Furnace a Fall Physical

If you follow your doctor’s recommendations, you go in for a physical
once a year. Your height and weight are recorded, your blood pressure
and reflexes are tested, and you have the chance to bring up any health
concerns with your doctor.

The same process occurs when you schedule fall maintenance once a year
for your furnace. Its heat output and air velocity are recorded, the air
filter is changed, and you have the chance to bring up any performance
concerns with your technician.

It’s easy to neglect yearly physicals if you’re in good health,
but should you do the same with your furnace? If it seems to be running
just fine, is a fall physical really necessary? Here are the reasons to
schedule a furnace checkup and the tasks you can expect a technician to perform.

Benefits of Fall Furnace Physicals

Lower your utility bills: Because an experienced technician can ensure everything is operating in
tip-top shape, your operational costs remain steady instead of rising
as they would if you neglected your furnace.

Save money on repairs: Annual maintenance is perfect for catching problems as they develop. That
way, repairs are affordable and scheduled instead of expensive and sudden.

Increase the lifespan of your equipment: Furnace physicals keep your unit in the best shape possible so system
failure doesn’t occur until many years from now.

Improve home comfort and indoor air quality: If there are any issues with your heating system, an experienced technician
will catch it and correct it so your furnace increases its ability to
keep your home comfortable. Checkups also result in cleaner indoor air
because the technician cleans and services parts that could increase pollution
production.

Enjoy peace of mind: Perhaps the best benefit of furnace maintenance is the chance to sit back
and relax all winter long, knowing that your heating system is less likely
to experience a problem this season. You can also rest assured that your
system is operating safely and not posing a risk to you or your family’s health.

What a Fall Furnace Physical Involves

Check the thermostat: To ensure you appreciate the most savings possible, a technician will
inspect the thermostat wiring and settings.

Tighten electrical connections: Faulty connections can occur over time, leading to unsafe operation of
your system and reduced lifespan of important system parts. A technician
performing annual HVAC maintenance prevents this.

Lubricate moving parts: Friction increases electricity use and puts greater wear on your system.
These issues can be prevented with a fall furnace physical.

•Inspect the condensate drain: A clogged drain can cause water damage and negatively affect humidity
levels in your home. Fortunately, a quick inspection from a qualified
technician can do away with these problems.

Check system controls: You want to know your furnace is operating safely, and after a technician
has checked the system controls, he or she can verify this for you.

Check fuel line connections, pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger: Improper connections in these areas create a fire hazard and can lead
to health problems for anyone in your home. They also cause your equipment
to operate less efficiently. That’s why a technician gives these
areas thorough attention during a furnace physical.

Change the filter: While a technician will surely perform this basic task during a maintenance
visit, you should change the filter once a month to ensure proper airflow
through the system. Good airflow helps prevent high energy bills and overheating.
Ask your technician to show you how to change the filter.